Who Is the Best Candidate for Body Aesthetic Surgery and How Does the Process Begin?
The key to success in aesthetic surgery is performing the right procedure, on the right patient, at the right time. Not every individual is suitable for every surgical intervention, and this selection process is not arbitrary but entirely based on medical safety. When deciding on body contouring operations, it is necessary to evaluate not only the patient’s appearance in the mirror, but also their general health status, lifestyle and psychological readiness.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the most concrete parameters in this evaluation. Scientific data show that individuals with a high BMI have a significantly increased risk of surgical complications. For a safe anesthesia process and smooth aesthetic contours, it is preferable for patients to be below a certain weight limit. For an ideal body contour, the target range is generally a BMI value below 30. This not only reduces risks on the operating table, but also makes the final result much more refined and long-lasting.
Weight stability is another critical factor. Even if the patient has reached their target weight, the body needs time to adapt to this new state. Before surgery, it is expected that the weight remains stable for a certain period so that the metabolism and tissues can reach balance. If the person undergoes surgery while still losing weight, newly developing laxity after the operation may compromise the aesthetic result. In patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, this waiting period may be longer so that nutritional balances can be fully established.
Smoking is the biggest red line for this type of extensive surgery. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and significantly reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues. In body contouring surgery, large skin areas are lifted and repositioned, so adequate blood supply to these tissues is vital. In a patient who smokes, problems with wound healing, tissue loss and infection risks increase dramatically. Therefore, it is an absolute rule to quit smoking well before the scheduled surgery date and not resume until healing is complete.
The main criteria considered before surgery are:
- BMI within the ideal range
- Weight remaining stable for at least six months
- Complete cessation of smoking
- Chronic diseases being under control
- Having realistic expectations
- Psychological stability
Which Problems Does a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Solve and What Are the Methods?
The abdominal area is one of the body regions most affected by genetic factors, aging, weight gain and loss, and especially pregnancy. Tummy tuck surgery is not, as sometimes misunderstood by the public, a weight loss method but a body contouring and repair procedure. The main purpose of this surgery is to remove excess skin that cannot be eliminated with diet and exercise and to reconstruct the abdominal wall.
A condition frequently seen in women who have given birth is called “rectus diastasis”, which is the separation of the vertical muscles on the front abdominal wall. This separation causes the abdomen to appear bulging, no matter how slim the person is or how many sit-ups they perform. During a tummy tuck procedure, these muscles are brought together and sutured along the midline. This creates an “internal corset” effect, flattening the abdominal wall and accentuating the waistline.
In traditional techniques, drains were commonly used after surgery to prevent fluid accumulation. Today, with advances in surgical methods, “drainless tummy tuck” applications are coming to the forefront. In this modern approach, the subcutaneous tissue is fixed to the underlying layer with progressive tension sutures. This technique leaves no dead space where fluid can accumulate. Not using drains increases the patient’s mobility after surgery, reduces the risk of infection and makes the recovery process much more comfortable. In addition, these internal sutures help give the abdominal area a more natural, contoured and shadowed appearance.
Why Are Body Lift Procedures Necessary After Massive Weight Loss?
In patients who have lost a large amount of weight as a result of bariatric surgery (such as gastric reduction) or strict diet programs, it is inevitable that the skin loses elasticity and sags. As the inside of the body becomes smaller, the “skin envelope” remains large and, under the influence of gravity, drapes downward. This excess skin not only creates an aesthetic concern, but also leads to serious functional problems such as chafing, fungal infections, movement restrictions and difficulty finding suitable clothing. At this point, fat removal procedures alone are insufficient and surgical excision of excess skin becomes mandatory.
“Body lift”, also called “belt lipectomy”, is a circumferential contouring procedure that encircles the lower half of the trunk. With this surgery, the abdomen, waist, hips and buttocks are shaped in the same session. The incision made in the front tightens the abdomen, while the incision extending to the back lifts the buttocks and narrows the waist. This procedure provides a dramatic improvement in the patient’s body silhouette.
In such extensive operations, patient safety is of utmost importance. Prolonged surgical time increases the risk of complications related to anesthesia. Therefore, if a patient needs tightening of the arms, thighs and trunk, it is preferable to plan these procedures in stages rather than performing them all in one session. Generally, procedures that restore the central body are performed first, and after recovery is complete, operations targeting the limbs are planned. A certain interval between two major surgeries is necessary to allow the body to recover, blood values to normalize and metabolic balance to be restored.
Procedures frequently applied in this patient group include:
- 360-degree body lift
- Arm lift
- Thigh lift
- Breast lift
- Back lift
- Buttock lift
How Are Modern Techniques and Implant Selection Used in Breast Aesthetics Determined?
Breast aesthetics is an important field that includes augmentation, reduction and lifting procedures and directly affects a woman’s perception of her own body. Since every woman’s anatomy, rib cage structure and aesthetic expectations are different, the method to be applied must be planned in a completely individualized manner. The goal is not only to enlarge or reduce the breast, but to achieve a natural form that is proportional to the body.
In breast augmentation surgery, silicone gel implants are the most commonly preferred material today. These implants are technologically advanced and the risks of rupture or leakage have been minimized. In implant selection, the amount of existing breast tissue is a determining factor. Round implants provide more prominent fullness in the décolleté area, while anatomical, teardrop-shaped implants mimic the natural slope of the breast, offering a more natural transition. In addition, the surface structure of the implant can influence how the body responds to it.
Breast lift (mastopexy) is the procedure used to correct sagging, deflated breasts. The main aim is to reposition the nipple to its ideal location and to narrow the lax skin envelope while reshaping the breast tissue. If the patient’s own breast tissue has sufficient volume, a lift alone may be adequate. However, if there is significant internal volume loss, the lifting procedure can be supported with a silicone implant to achieve a breast form that is both lifted and full.
Breast reduction surgery, on the other hand, is a functional procedure that improves the patient’s quality of life beyond cosmetic concerns. Large and heavy breasts can cause physical problems such as cervical disc herniation, back pain, postural disorders and deep grooving of bra straps on the shoulders. By reducing the breast tissue, the patient is relieved of this burden.